As a nurse practitioner at Baptist Prime Care, Paul Bilak is on the run, caring for patients. On Nov. 22, Bilak will run for other people—youngsters half-a-world away in Kenya, home to more than 1 million children orphaned there by AIDS.

The first-annual One World 5K Run will begin at 9 a.m. at Noble Park in Paducah. Money raised will help clothe, feed, medicate and educate African children orphaned by AIDS. A former missionary in Africa, Bilak established Project AIDS Orphan after he experienced first-hand the heartbreaking reality of the growing number of Kenyan children orphaned after one or both parents died of the pandemic.

Bilak and his wife, Monica, lived more than three years near Kandaria, a small village in the western portion of Kenya, doing missionary work and providing healthcare at a rural hospital. His supervisor, David Okong’o, was raising his three young nephews, orphaned when the man’s brother and sister-in-law died of AIDS. Together, Bilak and Okong’o helped the boys and the many other village children.

When he returned to the U.S., Bilak organized others to provide Kandaria’s orphans with food, clothing, healthcare and education.

“It really was a grassroots effort,” said Bilak. “So many people were eager to get involved.”

Keith Kelly, M.D., pulmonary disease physician at Western Baptist, was among them.

“I previously had done mission work in Nigeria,” said Dr. Kelly, “so this was a natural fit for me.”

Nathan Brown, Horizon Media creative director and self-described humanitarian, and Polly LeBuhn, M.D., also became involved. With the support of eager volunteers like Brown and Drs. LeBuhn and Kelly, the Bilaks established Project AIDS Orphan and headquartered the international non-profit organization in his living room.

“That was more than three years ago,” said Bilak. “We’ve accomplished a lot, including improving education and healthcare, and providing Kenyan adults with self-sustaining incomes through the establishment of a working farm. But there is still much to be done.”

Organization members hope to add children to the organization’s sponsored list; build, staff and operate a primary health clinic in western Kenya; assist the local elementary schools with a lunch program; and empower the community to become healthy and able to provide for its own children.

“Our first priority is to care for the children,” said Bilak. “In five years, we hope Project AIDS Orphan ceases to exist because that would mean our efforts have been successful.”

The run seeks corporate sponsors, as well as individual runners. For more information on the run or the organization, see projectaidsorphan.org or phone (270) 443-5316.